(DC ACTION SCHEDULE AND CALL FOR LOCAL ACTIONS FOLLOW THIS BRIEF SUMMARY OF CAFTA)

This is a heads up about the proposed Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). CAFTA negotiators will be holding the final round of talks during the week of December 8-16 in Washington DC, and it could come up in congress this winter. CAFTA, like FTAA is modelled on NAFTA, and is being negotiated between Nicaragua, Hondouras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, and the US. The imbalance is even worse than in the WTO and FTAA, where large countries like Brazil have been able to challenge the US and EU corporate trade agenda. The CAFTA draft agreements have not been made available to civil society, an offensive lack of transparency. From what we do know though, they include:

*Agriculture liberalization that would benefit subsidized US agribusiness at the expense of small farmers in Central America and the US alike. (1.5 million small farms in Mexico have been forced to shut down since NAFTA went into effect and flooded the Mexican markets with subsidized US corn and grain). CAFTA could also force the US and Central America to accept genetically modified foods and prohibit future bans. Agriculture will be a central topic during the DC meetings and could be a sticking point.

*Mandates for the privatization of Central American utilities and services.

*Investment provisions (like NAFTA chapter 11) that would allow corporations to sue governments for laws that impact their potential profits, such as laws that protect the environment, public health, labor and consumers.

*No labor standards. The real value of the average manufacturing wage in Mexico has dropped 20% and the US has lost 800,000 manufacturing jobs since NAFTA went into effect. The threat of moving manufacturing operations to Mexico has weakened the power of organized labor in the US.

*Passing CAFTA would generally advance the global "free trade" agenda. CAFTA, as a unified trade block, would put pressure on South American countries like Brazil and Ecuador that have opposed the US agenda in the FTAA.

The negotiations are taking place in a severely accelerated time scale - CAFTA was conceived by the Bush administration in early 2002. Nevertheless, tens of thousands have demonstrated throughout Central America, and at meetings in Houston, Cincinnati and New Orleans. Many DC activists have been focused on the FTAA and the Miami protests, and the organization to oppose the DC CAFTA meetings has been relatively slight. Momentum is picking up though. There is a rally and march planned for Sunday Dec. 7th and a symbolic direct action on the 9th outside the meetings at the Mayflower Hotel in DC. Additionally, a number of groups are organizing daily pickets. The Stop CAFTA Coalition is calling for local actions elsewhere in the U.S.

YOU CAN HELP
*By organizing a local action or informational event about CAFTA.
*Organizing a letter writing campaign to congressional representatives.
See www.stopcafta.org for more ideas and resources.

*Coming to D.C. if you can. Here is a schedule:

*******SPREAD FAR AND WIDE***********

Everyone in the greater DC area! The Central American Free Trade Agreement
(CAFTA) is Coming To Washington DC December 8th-16th! Below you will find
a list of all the actions planned during the week by various local groups.

The CAFTA negotiations are happening at the Mayflower Hotel in downtown Washington DC. The address is 1127 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington DC,
at the corner of Connecticut and L.

Sign Making party at Malcolm X Park in D.C.
Sunday Dec. 7th 10:30am
16th and Euclid NW
(Columbia Heights Metro Station Green Line)
Bring supplies if you have them to donate!

Central America is Not For Sale!
Rally against the FTAA and CAFTA
December 7, 12-2:00 Malcolm X Park,
The rally is at 12:00 and the march starts at 2:00!
(Columbia Heights Metro Station Green Line)

Go to www.stopcafta.org or email tomr (at) quixote.org for more info on the march.

ANTI-CAFTA AIR FORCE AND NOISE ACTION
Tuesday, December 9th, 9AM in front of the Mayflower Hotel, 1127 Connecticut Ave, NW
Bring your noisemakers and your paper airplanes! Come on out and let
‘em know loud and clear how you feel about CAFTA!
More info: dc.indymedia.org/newswire/display/85946/index.php

ALL WEEK LONG! DAILY PICKETS OUTSIDE THE HOTEL FROM 12-1

Each day of the week a different group will be coordinating a picket in front of the Mayflower. What do you need to do to participate? Just show up! It’s that easy. Come with signs, songs, banners, puppets and spirit. Meet everyday in front of the hotel on the Connecticut side at Noon.

Monday: Mobilize for Global Justice will have puppets and banners. If you would like to help get in touch with morriganp (at) riseup.net

Tuesday: Noise action - see above. Note: there will be no noon picket on Tuesday.

Wednesday: Nicaragua Network
There is also an official CAFTA press conference at noon at the hotel!

Thursday: Everyone!

Friday: Witness for Peace

Saturday: Quixote Center

MORE CAFTA LINKS: www.cispes.org, www.dc.indymedia.org, www.houston.indymedia.org, www.citizenstrade.org, www.nicanet.org, www.nisgua.org